Are you looking into renting out a vacation home for a few days, weeks, or months during your next time off? Vacation rental property has become increasingly popular over the past few years; it seems that everyone needs a little break from their overly busy lives to take a breath of fresh air and spend some time in the sun, on the beach, or in the great outdoors. Here are a few tips that may help you as you look into properties and potential vacation areas.

1. Who Am I Renting From?

There can often be a big difference between renting from an owner and renting from a company. Those owning recreational property can either rent it straight to you or hire a company or group to rent it out for them. If you find a property rented out straight by the owner, you may want to look for reviews of previous renters, find out how long the owners have been renting, and find out how well they care for their property. Company's who rent out vacation homes can often be much friendlier to work with and can have more professional services, but each case is different. Make sure you do your research into who you're renting from.

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2. What Is Nearby?

Every good recreational property has a convenient location surrounded by multiple recreational destinations and activities, and the best will usually be near a supermarket and a movie theater so that you can have easy access to things you need, as well as some down time for any rainy days. While it can be good to get away from conveniences for awhile, it's also important that you have that easy access to somewhere more public where you can get any necessities in the case of an emergency. Nearby cell towers are also a must in case of emergency, especially when outdoor sports are involved. The best vacation homes will have cell phone signal and internet access somewhere nearby, even if just a short drive away.

3. What Is Their Cancellation Policy?

When you are renting out a vacation home for any amount of time, the fact of the matter is that you are going to have to book it months in advance, sometimes over a year in advance if it's an extremely high-demand area. Planning on a vacation with a specific place and a specific time in mind can sometimes end up not coming through, especially if an unexpected circumstance arises or an accident or illness occurs. That means that you want to be able to cancel your rental if necessary, and without having to pay the full cost. Many recreational rental properties have cancellation policies that include fees and documents to sign. Make sure before you agree to or sign anything that you fully understand the owner's cancellation policy and agree with it. Don't run the risk of a cancelled vacation that you still end up paying for!

4. What Is Expected of Me?

The last thing to check is what is expected of you as the renter, particularly before you leave. Many rental vacation homes, particularly those rented out by the owners, will expect you to do an amount of cleaning or laundry before you leave, whereas others will have cleaning crews to take care of your mess once you're gone. It's up to you to decide how much you are willing to do whether you want more of the room service feel or a more home-like experience. Before you make your official booking, make sure you know what is expected of you.

Your vacation should be just the way YOU want it. Take advantage of the many options out there and don't try and rush your decision take the time to find the location that is best for you, and make sure that you know all of the details before you decide.